The Journal, Friday, September 28

Hey Folks,

I’ll be glad when things are back to normal. Or my version of normal. That should be a day or two after I get my new pacemaker.

I remember from before that there are certain physical actions I can’t take for about a week after receiving the implanted device, like raising my arm on that side over my head, etc. But I don’t think that extends to using a keyboard.

Anyway, the current problem isn’t physical, it’s mental. Well, compounded by the fact that my brain isn’t physically getting as ready a supply of oxygen as it usually does.

Whatever the cause, it’s difficult to think about anything right now other than the problem with the pump. I can’t even think coherently enough about a given writing topic to put down a mini-essay here as a topic.

(As I wrote the previous paragraph I had to pause to copy/paste “coherently” into a search engine to be sure I had the right word.)

Fortunately, this doesn’t adversely affect my ability to edit. I guess because I’m consciously looking at every word, every sentence and bit of punctuation, etc.

A few days ago (but while under the alien influence of this new me) I wrote an opening for a story or novel. Maybe an hour ago I came across it, wondered what it was and opened it.

As I started reading, I remembered almost instantly that I’d meant it as an opening to a story, but it was absolutely horrible. Ugh. No inside or outside setting details, no character description (or even a character name), no sensory input from the character, etc.

In a 300+ word opening, I managed only a vague setting, mentioned that it was night, and then repeated the opening problem in several paragraphs. Each mention was worded differently, as if somehow I didn’t remember I’d introduced the problem only seconds before. Wow.

That isn’t how I write, folks. Some have said I add a little too much setting description, most say they feel as if they’re in the story with the characters, but no one has ever accused my stories of being bereft of details. (grin)

So apparently setting aside the novel (WIP) until this stuff is over was a good decision.
***

I have noticed also, through recent posts and comments on FB, that even a layperson’s knowledge of heart problems is significantly lacking. That seems strange to me, and not just because of my current situation.

It seems strange because we have only one heart. It beats every moment we’re alive, waking or sleeping, and it never takes a break.

If it fails, absolutely nothing else matters. If it fails, we quit, period.
***

More editing this morning, then judging the “flash fiction” contest this afternoon.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Running Out of Time” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/running-out-of-time/. October online workshop schedule and master business class.

Fiction Words: XXXX
Nonfiction Words: 490 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 490

Writing of Nick 3 (novel, tentative title)

Day 1…… 3422 words. Total words to date…… 3422
Day 2…… 2664 words. Total words to date…… 6086
Day 3…… 3190 words. Total words to date…… 9276
Day 4…… 1090 words. Total words to date…… 10366
Day 5…… 1466 words. Total words to date…… 11832
Day 6…… 2859 words. Total words to date…… 14691
Day 7…… 3362 words. Total words to date…… 18053
Day 8…… 2465 words. Total words to date…… 20518
Day 9…… 1177 words. Total words to date…… 21695
Day 10… XXXX words. Total words to date…… XXXXX

Total fiction words for the month……… 21995
Total fiction words for the year………… 336726
Total nonfiction words for the month… 14550
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 132366
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 468842

Calendar Year 2018 Novels to Date………………………… 7
Calenday Year 2018 Novellas to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2018 Short Stories to Date……… 11
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 33
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 6
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………………… 193

Days of writing fiction every day………………………… 0